Susquehanna Students Sustain Hurricane Relief Efforts

Published on December 12, 2012

Members of the Susquehanna University community continue to participate in East Coast relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Two groups recently traveled to New Jersey to aid those affected by the storm.

The university’s Center for Civic Engagement organized a group of four students from Susquehanna’s first East Coast Hurricane Relief Team (ECHRT) to go to Bridgewater, N.J., on Nov. 17. Seniors Clarissa Dubie, of South Hero, Vt., and Kevin Zuidervliet, of Bridgewater; sophomore Jessica Mogel, of Schwenksville, Pa.; and freshman Chloe Johnson, of Little Silver, N.J., sorted donations of food and clothing, and surveyed devastated areas of coastline.

Another group of three Susquehanna students accompanied Jennifer Elick, associate professor of earth and environmental sciences, to help in Toms River, N.J., over Thanksgiving weekend. The volunteers included sophomore Emily Crawford, of Winchester, Va.; and juniors Amanda Chase, of La Mesa, Calif., and Lauren Payne, of Basking Ridge, N.J., whose mother and brother also joined the group. They cleared out houses and yards, ripped out ruined flooring, and sorted through and distributed donations.

The ECHRT will visit affected areas again on Dec. 14, with additional trips planned as volunteer efforts continue.

Service is central to Susquehanna University's mission. The university’s Hurricane Relief Team (HRT) comprises about 20 students, faculty and staff who travel to the Gulf Coast every year to assist with Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts.